Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/192

152 usually 5 in a whorl, 1–2 in. long, all deeply pectinately pinnatifid; upper rather coarse, usually crowded and overlapping; submerged leaves not often seen, when present with longer capillary segments. Flowers rather large, $1⁄5$–$1⁄4$ in. long, solitary or rarely in pairs in the axils of the floral leaves, with a pair of minute laciniate bracts at the base of each. Calyx-lobes present in both sexes, deltoid, jagged. Petals in the males only, linear-oblong. Stamens 8. Stigmas usually 4, plumose. Nuts 4, $1⁄8$ in. long, laterally compressed, usually with a single or double row of tubercles down the back, but sometimes smooth and rounded.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 151. M. variæfolium var. b. ''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel.'' i. 64.

4. M. pedunculatum, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 123, t. 23.—Stems short, simple or sparingly branched, tufted, 1–3 in. high, usually forming broad matted patches. Leaves opposite, minute, $1⁄8$–$1⁄4$ in. long, linear or linear-spathulate, quite entire, rather fleshy. Flowers minute, usually diœcious; males shortly stalked or sessile; females sessile; bracts 2 at the base of each flower, minute, linear. Calyx-lobes 4, very minute. Petals 4, wanting in the female flowers. Stamens 8. Stigmas 4, plumose, recurved. Carpels 4, small, oblong, minutely rugose.—''Handb. N.Z. Fl. 67; Kirk, Students' Fl.'' 151.

Stemless herbs with creeping rhizomes, often forming broad matted patches. Leaves all radical, petiolate, ovate- or rounded-cordate, coriaceous and fleshy. Flowers small, unisexual or rarely hermaphrodite, in simple or branched spikes or panicles. Male flowers: Calyx-tube imperfect or wanting; lobes 2–3, minute. Petals 2–3 or wanting. Stamens 2–3; filaments filiform; anthers large. Females: Calyx-tube ovoid; lobes 2–3, small. Petals 2–3